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Cambridge Who's Who Publishing Inc Avoid this company at all costs! Uniondale, New York
I got something from this company in the mail saying a friend of mine nominated me for this exclusive executive publication called Cambridge Who's Who. Knowing a few of my friends that would do this I filled out the information card, which stated that I would be placed into this publication and networking opportunity for FREE.
In a week or so I got a call from them congradulating me and everything like I won the publishers clearing house sweepstakes. She went through the two programs they have, a base program and a lifetime program. After explaining the benefits of both came the price. I was somewhat confused because the mailing I got said it would be free, but I figured this company had to make money some how so I continued listening.
In the lifetime membership program you are supposed to get your profile published in their upcoming Who's Who publication, a wall plaque, a copy of the publication, your profile online at their website, networking access to the "250,000 members," and a free plane ticket. For this it was roughly $900 immediately and then there would be another charge of $199 later on. The base program had about half of these features and came to roughly $600. I havent been in a corporate profile publication before so I figured it was time to market myself outside of my company. I bought the Lifetime Membership feeling good about the opportunity for my future in business. She explained that I would get a welcome packet in the mail 10-15 business days from then and the other features would follow.
After I got off the phone I googled this company and my good feelings about what I just did dropped immediately. Instead of seeing their website come up #1 on the search results, there were rip-off reports and complaints. Their website was #6 on the search results. I called them back to cancel their program immediately. They said that there was no way they could stop the charges becuase they send everything immediately to the printing side and its their policy that all sales are final. I couldnt believe that within 5-10 min of this they refused to cancel everything.
After arguing for a half hour with the "sales manager," and thretening to call my lawyer they said they would credit me back $300 and waive the upcoming $200 charge while keeping me on the lifetime program and I wouldnt loose any benefits. I reluctantly agreed to this and within 2 weeks the credit was back in my account.
So, after all of this transpired I waited a month before calling them to find out where my welcome packet was. They sounded really concerned and said they dont know why I had not recieved it, that there must have been a mix up in the mail. Just a bunch of excuses. They said they would work on it and I would have it by the end of the week. I am very busy with work so I forgot about it by that Friday.
Today I got a call from someone in that company. This is two months after I bought this crap, still no welcome package recieved. He wants to go over my profile to make sure all the information is correct so he can send it over to be input into the publication. Wait, wasnt that supposed to be sent over immediately after the intital phone call and purchase? He also wants to verify the mailing address so I can recieve my copy of the publication and the official plaque.
Then he starts asking if the credit card they have on file is correct and that the charge for my copy and the plaque will be $600! I immediately asked him why I was being charged for something I already paid for. He told me that everyone is charged for this and its not a part of the intitail payment. I explained to him that I was explained it was by the sales person who I spoke with and all he could say is I must have misunderstood the membership. That they do not bring up the costs of this till later on.
After all of this I told him not to send me the plaque or the book because I refused to pay for it. He proceeded to try and guilt me into buying it and we went back and forth arguing about the money. He even told me that the cost of producing these items was only $189 and they are worth $500 each so $600 for both is a great deal. Good math... I finally had to tell him I was busy and that I refued payment and did not want the products to end the call.
DO NOT! I repeat DO NOT! Fill out anything you get in the mail from these con artists. If they call you, hang up. They will promise you the world and you will recieve nothing. You will pay for everything in the beginning, not recieve what they said was included in the initial payment, and they will try and rip you off more to get everything else. Oh and I forgot to mention, you have to wait a year to get your copy of the publication. Must be so you forget completely about it and dont call asking where it is.